HUD Housing Counseling Program Handbook 7610.1 REV-5 … · 2019-03-16 · Counseling Handbook...

HUD Housing Counseling Program Handbook 7610.1 REV-5Stakeholders Feedback

Audio is available only by conference callPlease call: (800) 260-0718

Participant Access Code: 398079to join the conference call portion of the webinar

1August 16, 2016

Webinar Logistics

2August 16, 2016

• This webinar is being recorded.

• The audio along with the PowerPoint will be available at www.hudexchange.gov/housingcounseling under “Training Webinar Archives”

• All attendee lines will muted during presentation.

• There will be several polling questions.

• There will be important discussion questions. The operator will give you instructions. You will not have to give your name and agency to participate in the discussions.

Please submit your text questions

and comments using the Questions

Panel. We will answer some of them

during the webinar.

You can also send questions and

comments to

housing.counseling@hud.gov with

webinar topic is subject line.

Note: The audio and presentation

will be available on OHC’s website.

Information will be sent out via

OHC’s LISTSERV

Your Participation

3August 16, 2016

Other Ways to Ask Questions

Brief Survey

• Please complete the brief survey at the end of this session.

• Your responses will help OHC better plan and present our webinars.

4August 16, 2016

Welcome

Stephanie WilliamsSr. Housing Program Officer

Office of Policy and Grant AdministrationAtlanta, GA

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Stakeholder Meeting Purpose

• Provide an opportunity for communication and interaction

• Evaluate stakeholder input on program policy and procedures

• Share best practices and challenges

• Provide insight for OHC to help housing counselors achieve goals

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Agenda

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• Reasons for Housing Counseling Program Handbook revision

• Update from OHC Handbook Revision Team

• Feedback on program policy issues

Handbook Chapters

• Chapter 1-General Program Information

• Chapter 2-Obtaining HUD Approval

• Chapter 3-Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

• Chapter 4-Reverse Mortgage Housing Counseling

• Chapter 5-Recordkeeping and Reporting

• Chapter 6-Performance Criteria and Monitoring

• Chapter 7-Funding

• Chapter 8-Appeals

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Polling Question #1

What type of organization are you representing?

• Intermediary

• Multi-State Organization (MSO)

• State Housing Finance Agency (SHFA)

• Local Housing Counseling Agency (LHCA)

• Affiliate or Sub-Grantee (of an Intermediary/MSO/SHFA)

9August 16, 2016

Discussion on Client Files

• Financial Analysis and Budget – What are the reasons/circumstances where financial analysis and/or budget may not be feasible?

• Follow-up – What are some of the reasons why client follow-up is not possible?

• Discussion of Alternatives – When is discussion of alternatives challenging?

Recordkeeping and Reporting

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 5

Polling Question #2

Do you think follow-up procedures and time periods are reasonable with regard to recordkeeping?

• Yes, the current follow-up procedures are fine

• No, adjustments to the procedure are needed

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Client Files

• Documenting costs charged to HUD grant or sub-grant as well as other sources. Files do not always show this documentation.

Recordkeeping and Reporting

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 5

Security

• Security breach – What type of information would be helpful to include on protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

Recordkeeping and Reporting

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 5

Recordkeeping and Reporting

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Discussion Question

What is your most significant challenge(s) regarding recordkeeping and reporting?

Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

“Brick and Mortar” requirement that agencies have a physical office in each state where they are approved to provide housing counseling.

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 3

Background- HUD’s Housing Counseling Program currently allows agencies to perform comprehensive housing counseling only in states in which they have a physical “brick and mortar” office. HUD regulations (24 CFR 214.300) and the Housing Counseling Handbook require:

– “All agencies participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program that provide services directly to clients must provide in person counseling to clients that prefer this format” (emphasis added).

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Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 3

• HECM: seniors may prefer telephone counseling (limited mobility and health conditions)

• HUD-Approval Form 9900 also addresses the brick and mortar requirement

• Prior Exception to Brick and Mortar Requirement

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 3

Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

Polling Question #3

What percentage of your agency’s clients prefer phone counseling to in-person?

• Under 25%

• 26% to 50%

• 51% to 75%

• 76% to 100%

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Discussion Question

Do you feel the market changed so that clients are no longer favoring in-person counseling?

– If so, what has led you to this conclusion?

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 5

Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

Discussion Question

Can an agency that is not physically located in a state overcome obstacles to providing quality counseling in the area?

– If so, how can an agency demonstrate to HUD familiarity with rules, programs and services outside the normal service area?

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 5

Delivery of Housing Counseling Services

Connie Bartonhousing Program Specialist

Office of Policy and Grant AdministrationAlbany, NY

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Grant Applications

• Publication of NOFA

• Eligibility Requirements

• Application Instructions

Funding

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 7

How often did you refer to the Handbook when completing your NOFA application?

• Very frequently

• Frequently

• Infrequently

• Not at all

Polling Question #4

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Discussion Question

Do you have any suggestions or comments for improving this section of the Handbook?

– Should OHC include additional guidance on applying for HUD housing counseling grants?

Funding

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Polling Question #5

The Handbook is my agency’s primary source of information for grant compliance.

• True

• False

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Grant Administration

• Grant Agreement

• POC/GTR is your resource

Should the Handbook include additional guidance on grant administration?

Funding

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 7

Funding Sources

• Do you know where to find other sources of HUD and non-HUD funding?

Need guidance on collecting fees?

• Assessing, reducing and waiving fees

• How to document fees charged

• When grantees can charge fees

Funding

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapters 5 and 7

Appeals

• Do you have any questions or concerns about the process to appeal any adverse decisions rendered by HUD?

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Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5, Chapter 8

Concluding Stakeholder Comments

• What additional suggestions or comments do you have that could further improve the handbook?

• What other handbook topics would you like to see addressed on a stakeholder feedback call?

29August 16, 2016

Closing Remarks

Stephanie WilliamsSr. Housing Program Officer

Office of Policy and Grant AdministrationAtlanta, GA

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For More Information

Office of Housing Counseling web page:https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-counseling/

Email questions or comments:

housing.counseling@hud.gov

Find local housing counseling agencies:

www.hud.gov/findacounselorOr call

(800) 569-4287to search by zip code

31August 16, 2016